Boots no 7 Protect and Perfect Hand Cream

A helping hand cream

I've been a fan of Boots No7 Protect & Perfect range for some time now, and so when a friend recommended the brand's hand cream I was happy to give it a go. At £10.50 for a 75ml tube it may seem pricey, but because you only need to apply a small amount to get a good coverage, I find that a tube lasts me for ages. And Boots' regular £5 vouchers will help bring the cost down.

In the past I had used Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, which I still think is the best hand cream there is, but the RRP for this is £18 (although bargains can be found online at Cheap Smells and sometimes on ebay). Because my budget is now a bit tighter, I tend to only use the Clarins cream if it is bought for me as a gift, or sometimes purchased as a Duty Free treat.

I believe that No7's hand cream compares favourably to Clarins in its quality, and comes a close second-best. I think it's one of the best hand creams on the market, and I have now become a devoted fan.

It comes in a creamy-coloured tube, which stands on its lid so that the product is always easily accessible. The information on the back of the tube states that this 'quickly and easily absorbed moisturiser vanishes to reveal beautifully younger looking hands with fine lines appearing reduced in just 2 weeks'. It goes on to say that the cream is formulated 'with Pro-Vitamin B5 to help strengthen nails and moisturise cuticles. SPF15 helps protect against the ageing effects of the sun.'

Boots' website states that the cream will help 'to fade away age spots in just four weeks. The great thing is, even after you've washed your hands, the cream keeps replenishing and conditioning your skin'.

You should squeeze a small amount into the palms of your hands, then massage your hands, paying special attention to your nails and cuticles. I find that it absorbs quickly, so you can actually use your hands straight away rather than having to wait for the product to sink in. Even my husband, who uses his hands a lot at work, but who is certainly no fan of creams and potions, likes using it. I make sure that most of the cream is applied to the back of my hands. After all, it's this part of your hands that get the most damage from the sun, and so needs the extra care. The SPF15 is a welcome addition.

The only problem I've encountered with this hand cream is when I'm using the product for the first time. You need to unscrew the lid, then remove the tiny piece of silver paper that covers the hole the cream comes through. I find this extremely fiddly, and have to be careful not to damage my manicure! I've discovered that lifting the edge of the silver paper with an orange stick will do the trick.

Boots currently sell this hand cream at £10 for a 75ml tube, and it is currently (as of 1st May) part of an offer of '3 for 2 mix & match across 1000s of make-up products'. I've recently bought a tube of a new version - Intense Hand Cream, which comes in Day and Night Versions (£11.50 and £12.50 respectively), so I will be very interested to see how these creams compare.

I think Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Hand Cream is an excellent hand and nail treatment, and is good value when you can take advantage of the regular 3 for 2 offers and £5 coupons. It's a real treat for your hands. I recommend it very highly, and give it the full five stars.

(This review is also on Dooyoo, under the same user name.)